Good Farming Practices: Peanuts

The peanut has always been a popular food item. Despite their widespread cultivation in the tropics and subtropics, their South American origins are generally accepted as the source of their original cultivation. Somewhere in South America, either Brazil or Peru, is where they originated. There are still no fossils that conclusively establish their ancestry.

Peanuts have several potential applications, some of which are more prevalent in some regions than others. For instance, the United States' primary market for peanuts is human consumption, as opposed to the oil, cake, and meal that are the final products in most other producing nations. Only around 15% of the crop is typically crushed for oil. With a farm value of almost a billion dollars, they rank as the United States' twelfth most valuable cash crop.

You may eat peanuts, peanut butter, and peanut candies straight from the shell. Nearly two-thirds of all American-grown peanuts end up in jars of peanut butter.

Altogether, there are several proposed health benefits of peanut consumption. They are a fantastic source of vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B9 (folate), vitamin E, biotin, copper, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus. Across the board, they are believed to help lower diabetes risk and reduce inflammation while providing antioxidants.

To provide a strong foundation from the beginning of the supply chain, peanut farming entities must follow good practices. Here are four factors that can contribute to a healthy harvest.

Soil condition

Well-drained sandy loam enables fantastic conditions to grow peanuts. Deep soils with a pH of between 6.5 and 7.0 are also required. Furthermore, 30°C is the optimum soil temperature for good germination. 

Crop rotation

Crop rotation is crucial as it assists in effective nutrient utilisation and cuts down on the chances of disease and nematodes from the soil. Moreover, rotation decreases the number of weeds found. The likes of maize, millet, and sorghum can be grown after peanuts.

Pest management

Peanuts should be monitored regularly to identify any potential pest issues. Subpar pest management can be the difference between a poor or strong yield. If peanuts are planted late, it may be required to apply fungicides from 30 days after peanuts emerge. However, if peanuts have been planted early, fungicide application for leafspot control should start approximately 30 to 45 days after planting.

The University of Florida states:

“Leafspot disease is much worse in warm, wet weather than in cool, dry weather. Fungicides for leafspot control are one of the major costs in growing peanuts. If leafspot is controlled, white mold is controlled in turn, because white mold fungus thrives on the decaying defoliated leaves due to leafspot. Rust and other pests of peanuts must be monitored closely. Leafspot can typically be managed by applying an appropriate fungicide spray every 10–14 days, with this interval being shortened in case of frequent rainfall. Generally, all seed are fungicide treated since the peanut skin is very fragile and can be broken easily.”

Irrigation

The application of water to the soil via different systems should follow a careful process. Irrigation may be conducted before planting to make the overall operation simpler. If farmers find the crop is dry after planting, they should irrigate to bring the commodity up to a better standard.

As AgriFarming states:

“Adequate available water in the upper 60 cm layer of soil is important for high yield and good quality groundnut seeds. Most soils when at field capacity will hold about 3.1 cm of water at 30 cm of depth. The highest groundnut yields are observed when available soil moisture is kept above 50% of field capacity. Therefore, sprinkler irrigation is recommended when the moisture has been depleted to 50% of field capacity in the top 60 cm. During peak water-use periods (0.6-0.7 cm day-1) the field may require 3.0-3.5 cm of water every 5 days. Irrigation intervals can be prolonged for 7-10 days during periods of low daily water requirements.”

The bottom line

Overall, with several factors to consider, it is a busy job to ensure a healthy, sustainable yield, especially with the ever-growing demand for peanuts.

Taking other factors into account, such as fertiliser, manure, and seed treatment, there is an extensive list of requirements for a balanced process. Still, the soil condition, crop rotation, pest management, and irrigation are critical to ensuring good peanut farming practices.

Sources: Peanut USA; AgriFarming; University of Florida; Statista